The Red-crowned Parakeet, (sometimes
Red-fronted Parakeet) Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae, is a
small species of parrot from
New Zealand. The
species was once lumped with
several other parrots from New Zealand's outlying islands, New Caledonia and
Norfolk
Island, but these have now been afforded full species
status.[1] The
species is one of three New Zealand parakeet species known by the
Māori
name kākāriki.

Red-crowned Parakeets feed on seeds, fruit, berries, nuts and
other parts of plants.

Contents

Description

The Kermadec Red-crowned Parakeet is a medium-sized, predominantly green parrot with a crimson cap and eye-stripe. At about 29 cm in length, and 80-90 g in weight, it is significantly larger than the nominate subspecies, as well as having noticeably bluer plumage.[3][4]

Distribution

The parakeet is found in the Kermadec group, which lies about 1000 km NNE of New Zealand's North Island, and 900 km SSW of Tongas'Ata Island. However, it was eradicated from the principal island in the group, 30 km2Raoul, in the early 19th century, with the last records of breeding there in 1836, as a consequence of the introduction by humans of goats, cats, and both Brown and Polynesian Rats. It survived only on the nearby Herald Islets 2–4 km away, where there are about 50 breeding pairs, and on 3 km2Macauley Island some 100 km to the south with about 10,000 breeding pairs.[2]

For 172 years no breeding was recorded on Raoul, although occasional vagrant individual birds were seen. In 2008, following island restoration that included the removal of goats by 1986, the rats by 2004 and the cats by 2006, Red-crowned Parakeets were again recorded breeding on Raoul Island, presumably having recolonised it from the Herald Islets.[2]

Behaviour

The parakeets are normally seen in pairs or small groups outside the breeding season. They may form flocks, though some pairs remain alone through the year. They forage on or near the ground, congregating at water sources to drink and bathe. Flocks will occasionally fly to neighbouring islands to forage.[4]